Nat Geo Pulls Series After Outcry From Archaeologists and Others

After scathing criticism from archaeologists and others concerned about how remains were handled, National Geographic Channel is “indefinitely” pulling a series called “Nazi War Diggers,” reports The New York Times.

The channel said it wouldn’t air the show in May “while questions raised in recent days regarding accusations about the program can be properly reviewed.” The series was set to air globally, although not in the U.S., the piece adds.

The show features a team of experts, including metal-detection specialists and an expert in Nazi World War II artifacts, searching for the graves of German and Soviet soldiers on the Eastern Front. Critics decried the show as promoting treasure hunting, while others took offense at how the experts handled the remains of dead soldiers.

“I have seen human remains brandished like trophies before, but in dodgy Youtube videos. The trailer on the Internet was absolutely shocking, and very damaging for National Geographic,” said Tony Pollard, director of the Center for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow.

National Geographic, in a statement, said that it supported the goal of telling the stories of “lost and forgotten soldiers,” but added that it was taking “seriously the questions that have been asked.”